Senator Shapleigh's Personal Vendetta

Personally, I’m a little sick of Senator Shapleigh’s antics. I’ve invited him to come on my show to talk about a range of issues, but he never returned my calls.

I think the Senator has been a bit of a hypocrite on several issues, but his latest crusade against Dr. Garcia of the El Paso Independent School District is in my opinion, a dangerous precedent.

I listened to Shapleigh when he went on Paul’s show to hear him try to defend his attack against Garcia. I was listening to hear what his argument was going to be and I was listening to see how long it would take him to throw in a few words in Spanish. Sorry, but it’s so condescending when he does that and sounds as contrived and saccharine as a losing candidate congratulating the victor on election night.

Before we go on, let me be clear about one thing. I don’t have a problem with the Senator being against the TRE. The problem I have is with a lame duck Senator saying he wouldn’t support the TRE until EPISD got rid of Garcia.

What that says to me is that Shapleigh will put off the needs of parents, students, and teachers for political advantage. Is that what our community needs? Is that real leadership?

The truth is, that’s the case more often than not from Senator Shapleigh. He’s cutting his nose off to spite his face. Isn’t that what he said was wrong with State Rep Norma Chavez?
I think Senator Shapleigh’s stance is indicative of a big problem with Senator Shapleigh…ego. That’s the reason that I think he got so upset when I asked him a question about being “the Democrat of all Democrats” while talking up a Republican on talk radio.

It was almost as though he was offended at the very idea of being asked a probing question.

This desire to be treated differently, the desire to avoid a probing interview, wild accusations with little or no root in fact, and throwing around conspiracy theories all over the place reminds me of someone.

Someone else who has been able to keep a high profile in the media by also pursuing a prominent Doctor in town.

After watching this situation develop over the last few weeks, I thought I would check with someone who has a dog in this fight that hasn’t been heard from in the media as of yet. I wanted to check with City Rep Susie Byrd.

She’s a passionate defender of local eateries in her district, especially the really, really, over rated one, so I figured she’d feel pretty strongly about this situation because she’s a close political ally of Shapleigh and an alum of the school at the heart of the controversy, Austin High School.

Representative Byrd didn’t mix words when talking about Senator Shapleigh’s latest posture. “I think he’s wrong. I think he’s doing more harm than good right now…”

Senator Shapleigh needs to realize that he was elected Senator, not God. The community decides who sits on their school boards and they are the ones charged with oversight of the district.

When even your close political allies think you wrong, Senator it’s time to rethink your position.